Chapter 2 Shocking Discovery

The physical contact between Leonard and Amelia, though brief, was electrifying. His gentle touch on her arm strangely stirred a surge of mixed emotions in her entire body. It made her feel relaxed and less anxious.

"I'm fine. Thanks for your concern." Amelia smiled faintly and left. She slowly got into her car and drove off leaving behind a hypnotized Leonard.

Leon was intrigued and captivated by Amelia's beauty, and outpour of emotions. She didn't even try to hug or flirt with him like most ladies would do.

Ladies naturally melted in his presence and would give anything to be by his side even for a moment. He didn't have to push hard to get any woman he wanted.

Leonard walked back to his car, still deep in thought. He started the engine, and drove into a parking spot.

Then he picked up his phone and dialed Thomas's number.

"Hey Tom, meet me up at Bliss lounge. I've got something I need you to follow up on."

"Sure, I'm around the neighborhood and I'll be there in five minutes" answered Tom.

Immediately he ended the call with Tom, his phone rang, and then his facial expression changed to one of irritation when he saw the caller. It was Yvonne, his older fussy sister.

"Dad wants to see you today by 4:00 PM no excuses," Yvonne stated blankly and hung up.

*****

Amelia walked into her house and shut the door behind her. She leaned on the door for a while, lost in her thoughts. She admired her moderately but tastefully decorated living room before strolling to her bedroom. She picked up her phone only to discover over forty missed calls and some messages from her boss, sister, and colleagues. She scrolled over the messages and read a few.

[Mr. Kaine: Miss Amelia, where the hell are you? Are you not supposed to be at work presently? Why are you not taking your calls? You had better report to the office at this moment! This establishment will not condone such defiant behavior from you.']

"What a cold-blooded, bossy prick," Amelia hissed. She had never really liked or understood that man. Nothing ever seems to impress him. He always wore the same stoned expression even when she exceeded the company's expectations.

[Denise: 'Amy, where are you? Are you at home? Are you alright? Please, talk to me. I need to know you are fine.']

[Olivia: 'Hi sweetie, congratulation, I am so proud of you. Dad will be too if he were here. When last did you speak to mum? Call me when you have settled in your new office. Kisses and hugs.' ]

Amelia smiled briefly and the smile faded to sad teary eyes. She allowed the burning tears to flow freely for a while. She recollected the words of her late father; who was her best friend, and mentor. He was the only person who stood by her when she decided to forfeit law school for fashion design.

"Princess Amy" he would fondly call her, "if you want to achieve greatness, stop asking for permission."

"Oh daddy," she whispered, "I need you right now. I wish you were here. Where did I go wrong? Why is this happening to me now?" She sobbed deeply and lay down on her cozy bed for a while.

After a few minutes of crying, Amelia stood up and took off her clothes. She walked into the bathroom and turned on the cold shower. She shivered as the water ran through her hair. She slightly lifted her face, allowing the flowing water to trail down the curves of her body.

A soft moan escaped her slightly parted lips as the water tickled her sensitive spots. She thought about the beautiful stranger she had met in the parking lot and an erotic thought crossed her mind which made her shudder with desire.

She came out of the bathroom, dried herself up, and put on her favorite floral printed T-shirt and a short. Climbing onto her bed, she picked up her phone, and briefly texted Denise, letting her know that she was at home and fine. After that, she turned off the phone, closed her eyes, and slept off almost immediately, thanks to her weariness.

A continuous buzzing sound at the door disrupted Amelia's sleep. She opened her bleary eyes, a slight irritation crossing her forehead.

"Who could that be?" Amelia stood up from the bed, and walked lazily to the door. On confirming who it was, she unlocked the door and allowed Denise in.

"Oh my gosh, Amy," Denise scrutinized her like a mother bear checking out for injuries on her precious cub. "You have been one difficult person to reach all day".

"Have you been out there for long?" Amelia inquired sluggishly.

"No, I have been sitting at home and watching my favorite telenovela" Denise rolled her eyes. "You got me worried all day. I couldn't even focus on work and now you are here acting like nothing was wrong. Sometimes, I don't understand you. You are like a mystical cloud that can only be read by a sorcerer."

"Come on! I am sorry. I didn't mean to get you all worried or worked up. Henceforth, I promise to let you know of my whereabouts, mama bear," Amelia teased jokingly as she tried to put a smile on her best friend's face.

Denise had always been endeared to Amelia, ever since the day she joined the FK fashion company. Amelia was like a little sister she never had. Her determination to succeed and achieve her goal was incredibly awesome. She wasn't one of those beautiful faces that felt they could get everything they wanted just by smiling and flaunting their beauty.

"By the way, Darian called me. He had been trying to reach you...I didn't tell him about the incident in the office today. He wants to hang out with you," Denise grinned as she examined Amelia reaction.

"Come on Amy, say something, you know that guy is crazy about you. Why not give him a chance? You won't regret it, I promise. Also, I want you to leave the house and go have fun," Denise tried to persuade her.

"I don't feel like hanging out right now. Moreover, Darian is not for me. Yeah, he is cute, but I don't feel attracted to him. He never stops talking about himself, his achievements, and how he has so much money to take care of me. Maybe that works for other girls but not me" Amelia finally confessed.

"I want so much more; respect, honesty, loyalty, personal space, empathetic listener, and affection," Amelia echoed, lost in her thoughts.

As she recalled the brief physical interaction with the handsome stranger earlier on, she unconsciously started to blush.

"Is there something or someone I don't know about?" Denise broke the silence with a raised eyebrow.

"No. There is no one." Amelia smirked. "You are such a nosy friend."

"Thanks for the compliment."Denise wasn't convinced by Amelia's reply, but she decided not to interrogate her.

"You won't believe what I found out today," Denise declared with excitement, changing the topic. "Have you ever wondered who Sarah Bane truly was or who she is related to?"

Amelia gaped blankly at her friend, unsure of what to say. To the best of her knowledge, Sarah Bane was an only child of her late parents who died in a car crash. She saw herself through the fashion college by working as a part-time student. According to her, fashion designing had always been a dream she wanted to accomplish. And getting a job in one of the prestigious fashion companies was a dream come through.

"I guess I know a little about her," Amelia stared with a confused expression.

"She is the daughter of Mr. Kaine's only sibling". Denise blurted out. "she was placed under your supervision to understudy you and acquire the necessary skill she needed to lead the team. She wasn't surprised when her name was announced."

"Not only has she resumed her new office, but she also came prepared, giving directives like she was the boss of the company. You had been training her unknowingly for this position for two years now."

"Where did you get that information from?" Amelia questioned Denise with a frosty glare.

"James confided in me this afternoon, he overhead Sarah discussing with Mr Kaine. He even heard her talking to a woman on the phone whom she called mum and Mr. Kaine called Sophie. So I did my findings and confirmed the story." Denise smiled feeling impressed at her discovery.

Amelia was dumbstruck.

"No...o! you don't say! seriously! So she had been deceiving me all this while, fabricating stories just to gain my trust,"

Amelia paced around the room deep in thoughts.

"So I have been trading my creative ideas just to grow their company? They never had any plans of rewarding my efforts after all I have sacrificed." She breathed in deeply. "I'll show them." There was a darkened fiery look in her eyes. "I'll show all of them", she reaffirmed with a sinister glare.